Oscar Santoyo receives Mayor’s Award

Elise Gee

COSTA MESA -- He’s let them shave his hair into a mohawk and dye

it. He’s let them throw pies into his face. He’s even given up a career

in radio to be with them.

Oscar Santoyo, executive director for Save Our Youth, was honored as

this month’s recipient of the Costa Mesa Mayor’s Award. Santoyo was

selected by Mayor Gary Monahan as this month’s recipient for his

commitment and service to youth in the community.

“Oscar’s a workaholic,” said Kathy Ochoa, scholarship coordinator at

Save Our Youth. “He’s here from early in the morning to really late at

night. He believes in what he does and he really cares about the

community and who he’s helping and who he’s working with.”

Santoyo took on the role of executive director six years ago, leaving

behind a career in radio. But for him, there’s no question that the

trade-off worked to his benefit.

“I feel like I’m making more of a difference in their lives in person

than just on the air,” he said.

Coming to Save Our Youth was literally like coming home for Santoyo.

He is an Estancia High School graduate and grew up in Costa Mesa.

That background has been a benefit to the center, which offers viable

alternatives to gangs and street life, said board member Jean Forbath.

“The fact that he grew up in the neighborhood and went to the local

schools, it’s a wonderful thing for the kids to see that he’s wiling to

give back,” Forbath said.

The Save Our Youth center at Rea Elementary School offers after-school

homework and tutoring programs for teens in middle and high school. The

center also serves as a multipurpose neighborhood recreation center,

providing sports and fitness programs, including a fully equipped boxing

center.

More than 150 teens are enrolled in the center’s scholarship program.

Santoyo is also continuously expanding the resources offered by the

center and this year he helped start a Save Our Youth program

specifically for girls.

Forbath said Santoyo is a good role model for the teens there because

he maintains a balance between offering the teens both the discipline and

friendship they need.

That was illustrated earlier this year when teens at the center gave

Santoyo a mohawk haircut and dye job after they raised their collective

grade point average.

“The biggest reward for me is when I see those kids succeed because of

what we do,” Santoyo said.